Relationship between ideology and science.

After defining the characteristics of ideological knowledge and knowledge based on research, the experimental work on illusory correlations, serial effects, difficulties in "grasping counter-examples" and prejudiced pseudo-knowledge is reported. This proves how ideology can develop from the very functioning of the cognitive processes (perception, thought) when it is not kept under critical scrutiny. The difference between ideological and scientific thought reflects the different social conditions behind the production of the two types of knowledge.

Six-year outcome for cognitive behavioral treatment of residual symptoms in major depression.

Objective: The authors' goal was to determine whether cognitive behavioral treatment of residual symptoms of depression might have a significant effect on relapse rate.

Method: A 6-year follow-up assessment was conducted of 40 patients with primary major depressive disorder who had been successfully treated with antidepressants and were randomly assigned to either cognitive behavioral treatment of residual symptoms or standard clinical management.

Results: Ten of the patients (50%) in the cognitive behavioral treatment group and 15 (75%) in the standard clinical management group relapsed.

Cognitive deficits in the elderly: interactive theories and a study of environmental effects on psychometric intelligence.

Problems related to psychometric measures of intelligence are discussed with regard to both the general characteristics and metric properties (validity, reliability and sensibility) of mental tests, and interindividual differences (cultural background, education, life contents and age-cohorts). Currently used standard intelligence tests explore the structure of intelligence only in part, so a distinction must be made between true actual intelligence, potential inheritance of intelligence, and psychometrical or scored intelligence. The correct use of intelligence testing, however, does provide some relevant and objective information regarding the evolution of cognitive structure during adulthood and in relationship to aging.

Four-year outcome for cognitive behavioral treatment of residual symptoms in major depression.

Objective: The authors' goal was to determine whether cognitive behavioral treatment of residual symptoms of depression might have a significant effect on relapse rate.

Method: In an earlier study, 40 patients with primary major depressive disorder who had been successfully treated with antidepressant drugs were randomly assigned to either cognitive behavioral treatment of residual symptoms or standard clinical management. In both types of treatment, antidepressant drugs were gradually tapered and discontinued.

Prodromal symptoms in obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Prodromal symptoms were investigated in 30 patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. The large majority of patients (93%) reported at least one prodromal symptom before disease onset. Generalized anxiety, irritability, indecision, phobic and somatic anxiety occurred in about half of patients.

Cognitive behavioral treatment of residual symptoms in primary major depressive disorder.

Objective: Cognitive behavioral treatment has been used extensively in the acute phase of depression. The purpose of this study was to determine the applicability and effectiveness of this treatment modality in addressing the residual symptoms of primary major depressive illness.

Method: The subjects were 40 patients with major depressive disorder who were successfully treated with antidepressant drugs.

Prodromal symptoms in panic disorder with agoraphobia: a replication study.

The majority of 20 patients suffering from panic disorder with agoraphobia reported experiencing agoraphobic avoidance, generalized anxiety, and/or hypochondriacal fears and beliefs before the first panic attack. The results replicated those of a previous investigation and are in accordance with an increasing number of studies concerned with prodromal symptoms, epidemiologic surveys, and analysis of mechanisms of change upon treatment.

Mechanisms of change of panic attacks with exposure treatment of agoraphobia.

In vivo exposure homework was applied to a consecutive series of 30 outpatients suffering from DSM-IIIR panic disorder with agoraphobia. Assessment of the characteristics of panic attacks (the prodromal phase immediately preceding the attack, acute peak anxiety, and the residual phase immediately afterwards) was done by an independent rater before treatment, after six sessions and at the end of therapy (12 sessions). Twenty-five of the 30 patients completed treatment.

Prodromal symptoms in primary major depressive disorder.

Prodromal symptomatology was investigated, by means of a modified version of Paykel's Clinical Interview for Depression, in 15 outpatients at their first episode of primary major depressive disorder. Compared to normals, generalized anxiety and irritability were significantly more frequent. Impaired work and interests, fatigue, initial and delayed insomnia were also reported.

Treatment of social phobia by homework exposure.

Ten consecutive patients suffering from DSM-III-R social phobia were treated by homework exposure assignments, without therapist-aided exposure or other cognitive-behavioral methods. The 7 patients who completed therapy displayed highly significant decreases in social phobic symptoms and anxiety. Such improvements were maintained on a 1-year follow-up.

Prodromal symptoms in panic disorder with agoraphobia.

Of 20 patients suffering from panic disorder with agoraphobia, 18 reported experiencing agoraphobic avoidance, generalized anxiety, and/or hypochondriacal fears and beliefs before the first panic attack. The prevalence of these symptoms in the patients was significantly higher than the prevalence in 20 healthy control subjects. The results indicate that phobic avoidance in panic disorder with agoraphobia may not be secondary to the panic attacks, a finding that runs counter to the current DSM-III-R classification of anxiety disorders.

Obsessive-compulsive symptoms in agoraphobia: changes with treatment.

Ten patients suffering from agoraphobia with panic attacks reported significantly more obsessive-compulsive symptoms on the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale and Marks' Compulsion Checklist than healthy control subjects matched to the patients on sociodemographic variables. Behavioral treatment directed toward agoraphobia was associated with significant improvement in obsessive-compulsive complaints. On retesting, there were no significant differences in such symptoms between patients and controls.

A psychosomatic outpatient clinic.

Current emphasis in clinical psychosomatic medicine is on psychiatric interventions in acute medical and surgical situations (consultation-liaison psychiatry and medical-psychiatric units). Little interest has been taken in psychosomatic interventions in chronic situations and outpatient settings. The functioning of a psychosomatic outpatient clinic (POC) is described.

Psychology of the hearing-impaired and differential psychological reactions to prosthetic rehabilitation.

The present paper discusses the results of classic research on psychological aspects of the hearing impaired and emphasizes the fact that, today, because of the possibility of early hearing aid fitting, the psychological profile of the hearing impaired presents differential features depending upon several factors. In particular, the influence of the mother's education attitude on the psychological reactions to prosthetic rehabilitation and its efficacy depending upon the degree of prosthesis acceptance are analyzed. Finally, the relationship between the hearing aid use and language development is considered.